Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Mar. 6, 1923.

J. F. OCONNOR. FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM.

Z SHEETSSHEET l- FiLED DEC-27,1920.

Mar. 6, 1923. 1,447,424.,

1 F. O'CONNOR. v

FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM.

FILED DEC. 27,1920. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2- WWW mmmu w my Ifzuerziar 0 0% 9 (iiind?" Patented Mar. 5, 1223.

"hll l h earn r JQHN F. OCONNOB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOE TOWILLIAIVI IE. MINER, OF

CRAZY, NEW YORK.

FRICTION SHOCK-ABSOEBING MECHANISM.

Application filed December 27, 1920. Serial No.433,185.

T all whom it may concern: anism proper is disposed within the yoke 14Be it known that 1, JOHN F. OCoNNoR, a as is also a front follower 16.The yoke and citizen of the United States, residing at parts therein areadapted to be supported in Chicago, in the county of Cool: and Stateoperative position by a detachable saddle 5 of Illinois, have invented acertain new and plate 17.

useful Improvement in Friction Shock-Ab- "The improved shock absorbingmechanism.

sorbing Mechanisms, of which the follow proper, as shown, comprises,broadly a ing is a full, clear, concise, and exact deheavy combinedfriction shell and spring scription, reference being bad to theaccomcage casting A; a main spring resistance B;

10 panying drawings, forming a part of this aspring follower C; a seriesof stationary specification. friction plates D; a series of movablefric- This invention relates to improvements in tion plates E; a wedgingdevice indicated friction shock absorbing mechanisms. broadly bythereference character F; and

One object of the invention is to provide connecting or retaining boltsG-G.

15 a friction shock absorbing mechanism espe- The casting A is ofgenerally. rectangular cially adapted for railway draft riggings outlinein cross section as clearly indicated and wherein is obtained highcapacity by in Figures 2 and 3 and has what may be the employment ofinterca-lated stationary termed a cage or shell at the forward end andmovable friction plates, thus providing thereof, said cage having upperand lower 20 large wearing areas, thefriction plates bewalls 18-18 andside walls 19-19. The

ing combined with a pressure and spreading upper and lower walls 18 areextended to device of true anti-frictional character to the rear of thecasting A where they are insure release. it connected by a vertical rearwall 20 which Another object of the invention is to procooperates withthe lugs 12 as a rear fol- 2-5 vide a novel type of wedge constructionlower. The casting A. is open on its sides whereby accurate andellicient results are as shown in Figure 1 o as to permitinserobtainable 3,1; cgmpgu'ativgly mall 'e p .11se. tlOIl Of the'fOllOWEI 3.113, the twin arranged Other objects of the invention willmore springs B-B. y 1 clearly appear from the description and The shellOf the casting A is interiorly 30 claims hereinafter following. formedas best indicated in Figures 3 where In the drawings forming apart ofthis it will be noted that at the center as indispecification, Figure lis a horizontal longisated at 21, the vertical height is apprecitudinalsectional view of a portion of a railably greater than it is on eitherside thereway draft rigging showing my in1proveof as indicated at 22-22.In the case of 35 ments in connectiontherewith. Figure 2 is ach Oi the Sde portions 22, transversely a ti l transverse ti l i 10 13- extendingshoulders 2323 are provided at sponding substantially to the line 22 ofthe front and rear ends of the recesses 22 Figure 1. Figures 3 and atare vertical so as to form guides for the lateral insertransversesectional views of the shock abtiOIl Of the stationary frictionplates Dand 40 sorbing mechanism proper corresponding to also to prevent thelatter from moving longithe lines 3-3 and respectively of Figtudinallyor length wise of the shock absorbure 1. Figures fi and 6 ar d tail pereo ing mechanism. proper. As will be under tives of two elements of thewedge device. stood from the foregoing, the plates- D have And Figures 7and Bare detail perspectives. freedom of movement laterally so as to 45of the movable and stationary friction create friction with thealternated interplates, respectively. calated movable friction plates Insaid drawings, 10-10 denote channel Said. mOva rlc lon plates are ofdraft sills of arailway car to the inner faces gr r length takenparallel to the center of which are secured front stop lugs 11 and lineof draft, than the stationary plates D.

I 5 rear t l 12 A ti f d b The rear edges of said plates Fl as indicatedis indicated at 13.the same being operatively at 24 in Figure 1 arenormally extended associated with the shock absorbing mechslightlyinwardly of the rear edges of the a'nism proper by a hooded cast yoke14. and stationary plates D so as to thereby engage coupler key 15. Theshock absorbing mechthe spring follower C. At their forward edges, theplates E are extended close to the front follower 16 with normally aslight space therebetween as indicated at 25.

The wedging device F, as shown, consists of two like units oppositelyarranged. Each of said units consists of a cage K as shown in Figure 5and an interior block or core M as shown in Figure 6. The block or coreM is of regular wedge formation having an outer flat surface 26 adaptedto extend parallel to the axis of the mechanism, a fiat end face 27 aface 28 inclined with respect to the face 26, and upper and lowerparallel faces 29-29. It will be observed that the block M is of suchform that it may be easily manufactured of any desired material as forinstance in the form of a forged high carbon steel element, the samebeing free from any unusual projections or ribs such asare commonin manytypes of wedges employed in shock absorbingmechanisms.

Each case or roll retainer K has an end wall 127, top and bottom walls129-129 and an inclined wall 128. On the side of the cage or rollretainerK corresponding to the face 26 of the block M, the cage K isopen as indicated at 126-so as to thereby permit easy insertion of thecore or block M therewithin. On the side having the opening 126, thecage K is formed with cooperating sets of transversely extending grooves10-40 adapted to accommodate a pair of antifriction rollers ll-41. Onits inclined wall 128, the cage K is slotted as indicated at 4-2 inFigure 1 to thereby accommodate another anti-friction roller 43.

As will be clearly seen from an inspection of Figure 1, the core orblock M, corresponding cage K, and anti-friction rollers, are so madethatthe rollers, while bearing upon the respective flat faces 26 and 28of the'core M, will nevertheless extend outside of the adjacent exteriorsurfaces of the cage K so as to thereby permit the anti-friction rollersto cooperate with other members and relieve the cage K of all crushingpressure. Because of this arrangement, the cage K may be made as amalleable casting and does not require any diiiicult or expensivefinishing operations. It will be noted that the slots 4-0 and openings1-2 are of sufficient length to permit a true rolling movement of therollers 41 and 43' but will nevertheless limit the latter within certainlimitations of movement. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the anti-frictionroller 43 is interposed between the blocks M and engages the opposedfiat wedge faces midway between the front and rear ends thereof,,therebyforming a fulcrum on which the blocks M may rock relatively to eachother. By referring to Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that theantifriction rollers 41 on the outer sides of the wedge mechanism engagemovable friction plates E. The outer transverse wall 127 of at theirforward ends pass thru suitable recesses rovided in the wedge units andare connected to the outer one thereof by suitable nuts as indicated inFigure 1. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the bolts Gnot only serve to maintain the parts properly assembled but also permitof placing the springs under an initial compression, if desired.

The operation is as follows, assuming an inward or bufling movement ofthe drawbar. As the drawbar is forced inwardly, the follower 16 willreceive a like movement thereby transmitting pressure directly to theouter wedge unit. Pressure from'the latter will be transmitted thru theother wedge unit to the follower C the resistance afforded by thesprings B. Due to the true anti-friction engagement between the wedgedevice and the friction plates, the wedge device will be accelerated oradvanced longitudinally with respect to-the friction plates until suchtime as the follower 16 engagesthe outer edges of the movable frictionplates E. follower C will have left engagement with the inner edges ofthe plates E. Continued inward movement of the drawbar will producecorresponding movement of the two followers 16 and C, the wedgingdevice, and

the plates E. As will be understood from' the preceding descriptionconsidered in connection with the drawings, the wedge pres sure exertedlaterally on the plates will gradually increase in accordance with theincrease of spring resistance, as the compression stroke is continued.Upon removal of the actuating force, the reaction of the springs B isexerted thru the follower (l thus projecting the wedge device as anentirety outwardly relatively to the friction plates during the initialportion ofor initiation of the release action. At this point it will benoted that not only is there a true anti-friction relationbetween thetwo units of the wedge device but a true anti-friction relation betweeneach unit and corresponding movable friction'plate which I considerofimportance in a frictionshock absorbing At this time, the inner springrelatively to each other, relative adjustment of the units will bepermitted so that the same may accommodate themselves to deviations fromparallelism of the opposed faces of the innermost friction plates. Thisis of importance in a mechanism of the type herein disclosed, includinga plurality of stationary 'and movable friction plates, as it frequentlyhappens, due to the inherent inaccuracies of the plates resulting fromtheir method of manufacture, that one or more of the plates are ofslightly varying thickness from the front to the rear ends thereof,thereby causing the innermost plates of the groups of plates to deviatefrom parallelism when the plates are pressed into face to face contact.By providing a wedge member composed of two units between which afulcruming or pivotal action is permitted, as described, theintercalated plates of either group are permitted to assume true surfacecontact with each other, even though there may be a change of thicknessof one or more of the plates of that group between the front and rearend thereof. After the initial outward movement of the wedge device, thefollower G will engage the inner edges of the movable plates E at whichtime the lateral pressure will have been reduced as above set forthagainst the intercalated friction plates so that continued expansion ofthe springs B will easily force the movable plates E to their outermostnormal position.

I have hereinshown and described what I now consider the preferredmanner of carrying out the invention, but the same is merelyillustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that comewithin the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a cage;of intercalated, relatively stationary and movable friction platescarried by said cage, said intercalated plates being divided into twoseparate groups; a spring resistance; a pressure-transmitting wedgingdevice interposed between said two groups of plates, said deviceincluding an inner wedge unit adapted to be yieldingly resisted by saidspring resistance, an outer wedge unit adapted to receive actuatingpressure, and a single fulcrum-functioning anti-friction rollerinterposed between said two units.

2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a cage;of intercalated, relatively stationary and movable friction platescarried by said cage, said intercalated plates being divided into twoseparate groups; a spring resistance; a pressure-transmitting wedgingdevice interposed between said two groups of plates, said deviceincluding an inner wedge unit adapted to be yieldingly resisted by saidspring resistance, an outer wedge unit adapted to receive actuatingpressure, and a single travelmg fulcrum-functioning element interposedbetween said two units.

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a cage;of intercalated, relatively stationary and movable friction platescarried by said cage, said intercalated plates being divided into twoseparate groups; a spring resistance; a pressure-transmitting wedgingdevice interposed between said two groups of plates, said deviceincluding an inner wedge unit adapted to be yieldingly resisted by saidspring resistance, an outer wedge unit adapted to receive actuatingpressure, said wedge units having co-acting opposed surfaces, and aspacing support interposed between said two units, said support havingfulcrum faces engaging said opposed wedge surfaces to permit a relativerocking movement of the wedge units.

4-. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with acage; of intercalated, relatively stationary and movable friction platescarried by said cage, said intercalated plates being divided into twoseparate groups; a spring resistance; a pressure-transmitting wedgingdevice interposed between said two groups of plates, said deviceincluding an inner wedge unit adapted to be yieldingly resisted by saidspring desistance, an outer wedge unit adapted to receive actuatingpressure, and a single traveling supporting fulcrum member interposedbetween said two units, to permit a relative rocking movement of thewedge units.

5. As an article of manufacture, a wedge unit consisting of an innercore and an enclosing separate casing, said core being of triangularshape with two fiat surfaces con verged to provide a wedge formation,said casing substantially enveloping said core and provided with anopening to permit insertion and removal of said core, said casing on thesides thereof corresponding to said two fiat converging faces of thecore, being provided with recesses to accommodate antifriction rollersadapted to bear on one side against said core and at their outer sidesagainst cooperating members spaced from the unit.

6, As an article of manufacture, a wedging unit comprising: an innerwedge-shaped core; and an enveloping separate casing having an openingat one side arranged to permit insertion and removal of said core, theremaining sides of said casing being pro vided with walls arranged tocorrespond with the contour of the wedge-shaped core, each of said wallsengaging a face of the wedge and one of said walls being provided with ashoulder for engagement with the face of the wedge at the open side ofthe casin said walls and shoulder acting to 8:7 support sald wedgeagainst movement relative to said casing, said casing being alsoprovidedwvith recesses to accommodate antifriction rollers.

7. As an article of manufacture, a Wedging unit comprising: aninner-wedge-shaped core; and an enveloping separate casing having coreengaging bottonnitop and side walls and an opening at one side arrangedto permit insertion and removal of said, core, one of said side wallsbeing provided with a Wedge confining shoulder, said casing beingprovidedwith recesses toaccommodate antii'riction rollers;

8. As an article of manufacture, a Wedging unit comprising: anenveloping casing having an opening at one side, the Walls of saidcasing at said open side being provided with recesses to accommodateanti-friction rollersadapted to extend across said opening and aseparate core having fiat Wedge surfaces snugly fitted Within saidcasing,

saidcore being adapted to beinserted'and removedthrough; said opening. v

9. As an article of manufacture, a ivedgr ing unit colnprisingvaWedge-shaped core having flat Wedge surfaces; and a core enclosingcasing having a pluralityof Wedgeengaging W2LllS,- and A an openingthrough which the coremay be inserted into and removed from saidcasing,said casing snugly fitting said core alls to prevent relativemovement between the core and the casing, said casing havingroller-receiving recesses adjacent said. flat Wedging surfaces of saidcore. a a

In Witness that I claimthe foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 21st day of Dec, 1920.

JOHN F. OOONNOR.

Witness CARRIE GAILING.

